Switch.



J. T. JECKEY & J. SCHNEIDER.

SWHCH.

APPLICATION HLEU MAY 26, was.

1,285, 172. lnionfwi NM. In, 1918.

4 $HEETS-SHEET l.

J. T. HSCKEY 6: .l. SCHNEHTER.

J. T. HiCKEY & J. SCHNEIDER.

SWITCH. APPLICATION HLEU MAY 26, 1916.

Patented Nov. 19, 1918.

w. I 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I 9' CAM 4a dumm J. T. HICKEY & J. SCHNEIDER.

SWiTCH.

APPLICAHON FiLED MAY 26, was.

1 ,285, 1 72. lalvntod Nov. 19, 1918.

4 SHEEIS-SHEEI 4- P SWit UNITED STATES PA TENT OFFICE.

JAMES r. mcxn r or mim'r m,

"swrrcn.

lpeoifloatlon of Letters Patent.

Ifatented Nov. 19, 1918.

l Application filed May 26. 1916. Serial No. 99.999.

To all whom may concern: t

Be it knovn that we, JAMES 'l. hinnuzr and Jonx Slnxxmonn, residing at Ran-ital] and Elizabeth. in the counties of Somerset and Union g'nd State of New Jersey, respectiualy, hav ',in\'ented certain new and useful Improvemjhts in Switches. of which the following a specification.

This invention relates to a switch particularly adapted for the control of high tension electri currents and by means of which cincuits carrying such ctlrrents may be broken in the 0 on air and the ensuing spark harmlessly dissipated.

A more detailed object is to provide an improved construction of switch by the means of ,Which the spark producing terminals, or parts, are adapted to give a throw ing ofi,eifect to the spark at the moment of its a earance.

A fulfi means f imaking electrical connection with the mo ing parts of the switch.

.A fultther object is to provide improved construction for the horns employed.

A fu her object i to provide :1 improved means for clamping the hon and other parts to the insulator members employed.

A further object is to provide improved means for controlling the operation of the switch.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more or less specific than those referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principles. constituting the invention; and the scope of protection contemplated will be indicatedn the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as 0. art of this specification, and in which we libve shown a merely preferred form of embodiment of the invention:

Figure l'is a side elevational view of a switch constructed jnacc-ordance with the pri ciples of this invedtion.

F1. 2 is a top planoview of a gang of y es constructed in accordance with the "principles of this invention. I ,l Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of a ortion of the stationary contact member (1 its means of attachment to the insulator;

. Eli 4 is a View similar to that shown in er object is to provide improved Fig. 3, but being lzalion at right nng'los thereto.

Fig. 5 is a detail transverse sect ionnl view taken upon the plane of line of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged top plan xii-w of the movable contact member. n portion of the stationary horn being illustrated in lrnnsverse section.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the clamp employed for fixing the parts of the dovico to the insulator elements.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged top plan view of the control lever mechanism shown at the lower part of Fig. 1, parts being shown in section to better (llSClOSc the construction.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view taken the plane of line IXIX of Fig. 8.

F igs. 10 and 11 are enlarged detail views illustrating a modification, Fig. 11 being a upon section taken upon the plane of line XII-XI of Fig. 10; and

Figs. 12 and 13 are enlarged views illustrating a further modification.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 9, for a detailed description of the structure illustrated, the reference character L. indicates a base plate upon which the switch is mounted, as best seen in Fig. 1.

In cases where a gang of switches are provided, the base plate L constitutes preferably one element of a platform and is duplicated as many times as there are switches in the gang. as will be readily understood from the showing in Fig. 2. Connecting members 1 are arranged to connect the several base members together to complete the platform. The platform may be supported above the ground upon a pole or tower, if desired, for safety. A

Since each switch in the gang is identical in its construction and operation, only one will be described in detail. Where gangs are employed, however, they are usually connected to be controlled by a single control lever to be hereinafter described.

Mounted upon the up or surface of. the base plate Lis a pin insu ator G. This mav be of any suitable design and it is rigidly cured to the base pla A second insulator H is pivotally mounted upon the base plate. This is preferably of the same style as the insulator G, but its lower end is fixed to a shaft 2 which is journaled in bearings 3 upon the base plate.

The shaft 2 is common to all of. the

switches in the gang and it is fitted with a crank arm 4 at one point of its length. A rod 5 engages the outer end of the crank arm and extends downwardly to a point adjacent b the ground, its lower end being connected to a hand lerer 6 which is pivotallymounted, as at 7, upon the ole or standard. A rack member 8 is provi ed adjacent the hand lever and a toothed clamp yoke 9 is carried 10 by the hand lever, the teeth of which. as 10. are arranged to engage the teeth of the rack 8. The clanr yoke 9 is provided with a pair of arms l l which straddle the hand lever, and a clamp bolt 12 extends between the yoke and the hand lever, being fitted with an adjustin nut 13, whereby the yoke may be forceful y drawn toward the hand lever to clamp the rack S firmly between the toothed portion of the yoke and the opposing face of the hand lover. The hand lever will be held against all possiblernovement while the parts described are in tight clamping position.

When it .is desired to move the hand lever, the adjusting nut 13 may be loosened so as to disengage the teeth 10 from the teeth of the rack. A short handle 14 is provided upon the adjusting nut to facilitate its operation.

The outer end ortion, as 15, of the hand lever is referab y se arately formed and detachab e. It is re erably hollow at one end and made to to escope over an extension 16 formed upon the bod of the hand lever. The portion 15 may be etached at all times exec t when it is desired to operate the hen lever.

The hand lever, with the rack and associated parts as 'ustdescribed, constitutes a reliable and e cient lock, for the switch, which is proof against any possible aceidental o oration.

Suitable adjustable sto s 17 may be provided upon the rack 8 or engagement by the hand lever'to limit movementof the hand lever in either or both directions.

The stationary insulator G is adapted for supporting the stationary contact member of the stationary contact and horn, and the means for attaching it to the insulator, are as follows: a

A metallic clamp 18, as best seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 7 is provided, said clampbeing formed with an upper or'platform portion 19 and lower clamp ring portion 20, which portions are connected together by bowed legs 21. The clam. ring portion is adapted to engage with ma groove 22 formed at the u per end of the insulator, ahdboth the plat orm portion and the clamp ring portion are each made of two parts connected together by clamp bolts 23. By tightenirp; he bolts 23, the clamp ring will engage closely within the groove 22. 1

and horn of the switch. The construction A lug 24 is formed upon the upper surface of the platform portion 19 and serves as means for attaching the contact member and born to said platform portion.

' The contact member 25 is made of sheet 7L metal bent into inverted U shape. The lower ends of the legs of the U straddle the lug 2i and are suitably riveted thereto. A filler block 27 is inserted above the lug 2 1 so as to lend stability to the structure, and a pair of bolts 28 extend through this filler block and serve to fix a air of rods 29 and 30 in position, said ro s extending vertically u wardly from the platform portion 19 an constituting the stationary horn. so These rods are bent toward each other above the member 25 and are fixed together, as at 31, so that the rod 29 constitutes a reinforcing means for the rod 30, the rod 30 being continued somewhat above the upper end of the rod 29 and being further bent, as at 32, to constitute a portion of the spark dissipating surface of the horn.

The opposite or movable horn of the switch is mounted upon the upper end of the insulator H to move therewith. A clam member 18, similar to that already describe is employed as a means for making the connection. This clamp member is provided with a lug 33 projecting upwardly therefrom in the same manner as is the In 24 from the clamp member upon the stationary insulator, The lug 33, however, is made larger than the lug 24, and carries a pair of contact arms 34 which are fixed to its opposite surfaces. These arms extend forwardly, ward the stationary horn, and the forward end portions are bent toward each other so as to stand in position to effect a rubbin contact with the Opposite side surfaces i the stationary horn when the device is in operation. A filler block 35 is arranged betweeh the arms 34 intermediate the-length of said arms. Beyond this filler block, however, the arms are not connected to each other and are resilient with respect to each other so as to improve the frictional contact, as will be readily understood.

V A pair of horns 36 are carried one by each of the contactarms 84, said horns having portions 37 which are bent beneath the outer end portions of the contact arms so as to engage against the side surfaces of cats? tionary horn. Beyondthc portions 18'! the horns 36 are bentahruptly upwardly are turned outwardly away from eat: j l as clearly indicated by comparison 0: 1 1 and 6. The upward bend is to Buck e gree, that, during the operation of. th vice, when the contact arms 34;

. 11- the horns 36 will San be in C tact thins stationary horn after the,end H 539; Of the horns- 36 have passed 1* plane of the stationary horn.

deaf re swan upwardly, a. portion, as 38, in the An uwardly lao flaring V-shaped space is thus defined by the three horns at the moment the portion 38 leaves the stationary horn and the spark is produced. Thespark is thus immediately dissipated upwardly between these diverging horns.

The wires bearing the electric current to the two horns may be electrically connected with said horns in any approved manner. It is a part of this invention, however, to provide improved means for connecting the wire to the contact arms of the movable horn. One form of such improved. means is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, and com prises a pair of toggle links 40 and 41 pivotally connected together. The outer end of the link 40 is pivotally connected to the lug 33 on the movable insulator and tho outer end of the link 41 is pivotally connected to a stationary member This stationary member may be carried at the upper end of an insulator 43, similar to the insulator G, as illustrated, if desired.

The line wire, as 44, at one side of the switch is attached to the stationary member 42 and from itspoint of attachment, as in a socket member a5, a flexible portion 46 extends to a socket member 47 movable with the contact arms 34. The toggle links to and 41 are provided with eyes 48 at Spaced points therealong and the flexible portion. of the conductor wire is threaded through said eyes so as to be. supported at several points in its length.

As the movable insulator is moved, the links 40 and ll are caused to buckle with respect to each other, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. The slack produced in the flexible portion of the wire is taken care of by this buckling and no undue strain or bend is occasioned at any particular point in the length of the wire.

The modification Figs. 10 and 11 illustrates the wire 46 as being supported at one point only in its length, namely at the point where the toggles 40 and 41 are pivotally connected together. As shown in these figures, the toggles are each made up of a.

pair of members spaced apart, a spacing sleeve 49 being interposed in. position surrounding the pivot pin 50. A double-eye member 51 is mounted upon the sleeve 49, said sleeve being positioned within one'of the eyes of said member. depends from the sleeve and receives t e wire 46 thew-through, clearly illustrated.

This form of construction is preferable to that shown in Fig. 1, in many instances.

In Figs. 12 and 13 a further modified means of supporting the wire 46 is illustrated. In this modification the to gle links 4-0 and 4] are dispenser] with em? in their stead a single spring pressed lever 52 is pr vidcd. This lever is formed with an eye 53 at its outer end through which the wire 46 is The other e e tially parallel and extendin threaded and the tendency of the lever to swing in one direction will maintain the wire suitably supported at all times. This lever may be mounted in any suitable manner adjacent the wire but it is preferably carried upon the lug 33 of the movable insulator ll. It is formed with spaced legs bl straddling said lug and engaging a pivot rod 55 extending through the lug. A suitable coil spring 56 is mounted upon the rod 55 and has one of its ends, as 57, engaging the lug and having its other end 58 engaging the lever 52, the spring exerting tendency to force the outer end of the lever upwardly.

It should be mentioned that in some cases it may be found desirable to dispense with one or all of the horns 30 and 36, in which case the circuit will be broken immediately the contact arms 34 leave the contact member 25.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A switch comprising a stationary member and a movable member, and means for moving the movable member, the stationary member comprising a platform having a lug upstanding therefrom, an inverted U-shapcd member formed of sheet-metal, with the lower ends of its legs straddling and fixed to said lug, and a horn fixed to said U-shaped member extending thereabove to cooperate with portions of the movable member to provide spark dissipating means.

2. A switch com prisin a stationary member and a movable men ier, and means for moving the movable member the stationary member comprising a platform having a lugmpstandin therefrom, a member formed of sheet meta bent into inverted U-shape .witncits legs spaced apart the lower ends of said legs straddlin said lug and fixed thereto, the legs of t e U being substanfor a distance above the upper end of t e lug, a filler block arranged in the space between said legs above said lug, and a horn fixed to said filler block and extending above the upper end of said U shaped member so as to coiip erate with portions of the movable member to provide spark dissipating means.

3. A switch comprisin a stationary member and a movable mem er, and means for moving the movable member, the stationary member comprising a platform having a lug upstandin therefrom, a member formed of sheet meta bent into inverted U-sha e disposed with its legs spaced apart t 0 lower ends of said legs straddling said lug and being fixed thereto, the is of the U being substantially parallel and extending for a distance above the upper end of the lug, the movable member comprising a pair of rohilimlt 11mm; mm'uble into and out of position straddling said U-shaped member, and a pair 0! horns married one by each 0f said resilient (nuns baring portmns dispvsed l0 cngz'zge the, opposite QUIffiQiES of said U-shaeil ml-mber.

A swibsll comprising a stationary membe and a movable nwmber, and means for moving the movable member, tbu stationary member comprising a platform having :1 lug upslabtllng tlm'el'rmn, a member formed of sl'wct metal bent into inverted U-shape and. bving disposed with its legs s aced apart; the lower ends of said legs st-ra dling said lug and being fixed chm-eta the legs of the U being fiuhttillilltliilly parallel and extending for 2: (balance ubm'e ibe upper end of the lug, the nmx'able member cmuprising; a pail of resilient all-ms movable info and out. wf positiun straddling said U-Rhaped member a 11mm carried. by said stationary mombi r projeciing upwardly therer0111 and a pair of horns um: cmi'id by Gil-Sh of said resili ant nulls disposed to straddle film first horn, "and t0 cui'lpel'ate with sail first hem i0 pmvide spark dissipating means.

In last mny whereof we a'lfix our signaltures in (ma presmme of two Witnesses.

JAMES T. HICKEY. JOHN SCHNEIDER;

Witnesses EMMA WEINBEKG, Lama BRANDEVEJR. 

